Imagine reaching your life-long dream of being drafted to play professional soccer and then in the next minute the league folds and your dream is ruined? Welcome to Kate Deines. After leading the University of Washington to three NCAA tournament bids, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2010, Deines was chosen by the Atlanta Beat in the 2012 WPS draft. Unfortunately the league ceased operations soon after, but Deines continued playing. First with the Seattle Sounders of the W-League and then with Stjarnan FC in Iceland. With the launch of NWSL, Deines will finally see her dream come true as she signed as a free agent with the Seattle Reign. Follow Deines on twitter: @katedeines

Soccer Banter: With WPS folding you had to wait an extra year, but as a kid playing soccer did you ever dream of playing professional soccer in America? Kate Deines: Even as a kid playing recreational soccer, I envisioned myself playing soccer professionally and one day being a part of the U.S. Women’s National Team. That’s why being drafted to play for the Atlanta Beat in the 2012 WPS draft was one of the most memorable days of my life. It was going to be the opportunity to realize a lifelong dream. SB: A bit of a storybook career at this point – local girl playing professional soccer for the local team. What are your thoughts on playing for the Reign and representing the city of Seattle as a professional athlete?KD: Although I ended up having to wait a year to play professionally due to the collapse of the WPS, I am beyond excited to kick off the inaugural season of the NWSL with the Seattle Reign FC. It almost seems too good to be true that I get to play professional soccer in the city I love. I am living the dream.

SB: How would you describe your experience with the Reign traveling to Japan for preseason? How competitive were the teams you played against and how would you describe the soccer culture there?KD: Despite still trying to recover from the jet lag, I had an awesome two weeks in Japan to kick off the beginning of our preseason. The trip really helped accelerate our bonding process as a team both on and off the field. We also got three competitive games under our belts, during all of which we were challenged by the Japanese teams’ impressive technical ability, speed, and quality of possession. The first game we played INAC Kobe Leonessa, arguably one of the best professional soccer teams in the world. SB: When WPS folded, you headed over to Iceland to play, how did playing overseas help in your development as a player? KD: Even though it was a spur of the moment decision to play overseas in Iceland, I believe my three month stint helped in my development as a player. Icelandic soccer was not nearly as technical or tactical as soccer in the United States but the extreme physicality of our practices and games challenged me to play with a whole new level of aggression. Playing professionally in Iceland also allowed me an opportunity to keep practicing and playing games on a daily basis which would not have been the case if I would have stayed in the United States.

SB: For those that haven't seen you play, how would you describe yourself as a player?KD: I am tall, strong, aggressive, and good out of the air. I pride myself on my work ethic and going 100% at all times when I play. Although you will most likely see me playing center back this season for Seattle Reign FC, I have spent the majority of my career as a center midfielder. This has enabled me to become efficient and comfortable with the ball at my feet. SB: Looking back on your college career, you chose to attend UW at a time when the team was coming off three of the worst years in the program's history. What made you decide UW was the school for you and why did you believe that the program could win again?KD: Originally, I never thought I would go to college in state. I reluctantly took my unofficial visit to UW because I had met the associate head coach, Amy Griffin, a few years prior on an international trip to Japan with the U.S. Youth National Team. However, after meeting the coaching staff, players, and touring the campus I immediately fell in love and committed soon thereafter. Despite coming off a couple of sub-par seasons, I knew the UW Women’s Soccer Team had all the necessary components to be a winning program again. SB: Much has been made of the Seattle-Portland rivalry in MLS, should soccer supporters be expecting much of the same between the Thorns and the Reign?KD: I think the intensity of the Sounders-Timbers rivalry has inevitably created a pre-existing rivalry between us and the Thorns, especially since we are the only two West Coast teams in the NWSL. We definitely want to stake our claim this season as the Best in the West J.SB: Last question, here is your chance to market NWSL and the Seattle Reign - why should people come out to watch games this season? KD: People should come watch the inaugural season of the NWSL because they will get the chance to see the highest level of women’s soccer, not just in the United States, but also in the world. We need fan support to help maintain and grow the NWSL to ensure that aspiring women soccer players will have the opportunity to one day fulfill their dreams, just like me. Go Reign!